BOSTON -- The Cable Show -- Cable's big annual to-do wrapped up here Wednesday, with much of the buzz centered on next-gen access technologies, using the cloud to help operators speed up the innovation of their video products and target multiple screens, cable's Wi-Fi ambitions and the introduction of X1, Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)'s new video platform.

And, for good measure, Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) orchestrated a flash mob soon after the show floor opened.

The show drew the expected 12,000 people, down about 8 percent compared to last year's confab in Chicago, but we didn't hear too many complaints on the floor, at least during the first two days of the event. Every tech panel we attended was tightly packed too.

We captured some of the show sights during our travels. Click on the image below to start up the slide show.



Except where noted, all photos were taken with our handy-dandy Nikon Coolpix P300. And the captions, per usual, are entirely our fault.

If want to extend your trip down memory lane, check out these slide shows from cable shows of yore:

• Photos: The Cable Show 2011
• Photos: Cable Tchotchkes in Chicago
• The Cable Show: Scenes From the Show Floor
• Photos: The Cable Show, Part I
• PHOTOS! The Cable Show, Part I

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable